The Boundary of Rest

Opening Scripture

Exodus 20:8–10 NLT

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.

God delivered Israel from the Egyptians who forced labor on the Israelites so that they could have rest in Him and work productively for His glory.

God factored in rest by Him resting on the seventh day from creating the earth, universe, and everything within them. By us not resting and only working we are violating the very order that God has established within life and creation.

Often times we can be all work and no rest and by doing so we position ourselves to be burned out

Most of the times its not the job nor company we can’t stand its simply the fact that we have invested so much of our time that we neglected our rest that God says we need.

The fact that God himself rested, not for his benefit but for ours we say that we are better than God.

There is so much life that can come from and be found within our time of rest with the Lord.

Rest In Your Trust…

Exodus 16:23 NLT

He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”

About 99.9 percent of the time a persons response as to why they work so much or are focused on work so much is because of the amount of bills they currently have or they don’t want to be in debt or they want to have more than enough.

God promises us that if we Rest in Him we can trust for Him to provide for us.

It’s not always easy to rest when the world never stops… BUT the good news is that our God never stops either

When we choose to be still we are trusting and knowing that He alone is God and is more than capable of meeting and providing for our needs

We REST as we TRUST in our heavenly Father — He is faithful!

It’s NOT optional, It’s Required…

Deuteronomy 5:12–14 NLT

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do.

God is telling us that REST is NOT optional it is REQUIRED!!

It’s not just required for us but for our entire house hold

Just by us taking a Sabbath we are telling God that we 1) Trust Him, 2) we honor His word and commands, and 3) We respect the life that He has given to us

A large-scale U.S. study found that regular churchgoers live significantly longer. Individuals attending services more than once per week averaged 83 years, compared to 75 years for non-attendees—a 7-year lifespan advantage. Their mortality risk was 87% lower during follow-up. - University of Colorado

When we root our lives in Christ and honor Him with our time by resting and trusting we live a longer life than those who place their faith and trust in the world.

The enemy wants to keep you in a place of bondage so that you don’t receive all that God has intended for you to receive by having a deeply rooted relationship with Him.

Jesus: Our True Place of Rest

Colossians 2:16–17 NLT

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

The Jewish Religious leaders were very strict with obeying the torah and observing Holy days and Sabbaths to the point sever consequences were rendered if these days were violated.

Jesus healed someone on the sabbath day, which was normally observed on the seventh day (Saturday).

The religious leaders questioned Jesus and condemned Him within their hears which lead to Jesus asking them a simple question “Is it better to do good on the sabbath or evil?”.

Jesus proceeds to teach us through the gospel and that time the religious leaders and the Jews that our Father would much rather us do good while resting rather then committing sin by doing nothing.

In other words if you see your brother or sister in the need of help will you not help them if you are resting? By doing nothing we could have sinned against them.

If the Sabbath wasn’t taken on the seventh day (Saturday’s) the Religious leaders would goo crazy…

Jesus shows us that by Him being our place of Rest (Sabbath) it doesn’t matter what day we rest as long as we take a day and time to rest!

When we work Rest into our calendar we will soon notice that we can be far more productive.

I challenge you to Work Rest into your calendar this week moving forward… it may be on different days and thats fine but set aside a day where you do absolutely NOTHING and just REST.

For those of you who are married go on a date day… For those of you who are single partake in a local event or just spend time enjoying yourself out doors.